Nox did not give Serene any more ti to speak.
The mont those words left his mouth, the frost greatsword dissolved into countless particles of cold light, dispersing into the air like mist. At the sa ti, he placed his hand on her head.
A symbol began to form beneath her back, glowing faintly against the frozen ground.
She felt it imdiately.
It was not pain.
It was far worse.
A crushing pressure descended on her soul, as if invisible chains were wrapping around her very existence. Her vision blurred, and for a brief mont, she felt as if she were falling into an endless abyss. mories flashed through her mind uncontrollably. Her training. Her missions. Her loyalty to the empire.
All of it began to shake.
"What... what are you doing?" she tried to ask, but her voice ca out weak and hoarse.
The symbol beneath her fully ford.
It was intricate, complex, and ancient, pulsing with power before sinking into her skin. It burned itself onto her back, etching deep into her being.
The Mark of Infinity.
Her body jerked violently as a wave of energy surged through her. Her eyes rolled back for a split second before snapping open again. This ti, however, sothing was different.
Her pupils dilated unnaturally, and the resistance in her gaze vanished.
Nox watched calmly.
He could feel it clearly now.
A connection.
Not a vague one, not a fragile one, but an absolute link that tied her existence directly to his will.
So ti later, she slowly pushed herself up from the ground. The ice restraining her cracked and fell away, but she did not attempt to attack. She did not attempt to flee either.
Instead, she knelt.
Her sword slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the frozen stone.
Eve raised an eyebrow slightly as she watched the scene unfold, but she said nothing. She was already used to this, though she could not help but notice how fast and efficient the entire process had been.
Nox stared down at her for a few seconds longer, then turned away as if what had just happened was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Stand," he said calmly.
She obeyed instantly.
Her movents were smooth and disciplined, but utterly devoid of resistance. Her eyes no longer carried hostility or arrogance. Instead, they were clear, focused, and obedient.
"Return to the castle," he continued. "Act as usual. Do not raise suspicion."
"Yes," she replied without hesitation.
She picked up her sword, sheathed it, and turned away. Within monts, she disappeared into the night, moving swiftly toward the heart of the island.
An awkward silence settled between the necromancer and the beast tar until Eve finally spoke.
"Why did you change your mind? I thought you wanted revenge."
He glanced at her briefly, his eyes flashing sharply. "Trust . I still have plans for my revenge. When all this is over, we will settle that."
Eve shrugged lightly. "As long as you know what you are doing."
"I do," he replied calmly.
Through her eyes, the world shifted.
The familiar stone pathways of the island blurred past as she moved. Guards nodded respectfully as she passed. No one questioned her presence. No one sensed anything wrong.
Yet Nox saw everything.
Every corner of the castle grounds. Every patrol route. Every hidden defensive formation layered beneath the surface.
The castle lood ahead, massive and imposing, built atop the highest point of the island. The air itself felt heavier the closer one got.
She entered without issue.
"My lady, there you are." A guard quickly approached and bowed respectfully.
"What is it?"
"A eting has been called by His Majesty. You have been summoned."
Nox, who was currently in possession of her body through astral control, smiled faintly and said, "Lead the way."
She stepped into the grand hall, her boots echoing softly against the polished stone floor. A long table dominated the room, with several figures already seated.
The most important face, however, was her father, who sat at the head with a serious expression. Jack was seated a few positions away, his deanor calm but distant. Soren stood near the wall, arms crossed, observing silently.
Andre’s eyes imdiately locked onto her the mont she entered.
"Take your seat."
She complied, sitting down smoothly.
"I have just received reports," Andre said, his voice steady and authoritative. "Despite our efforts, the spread of beast taming has not slowed. In fact, it is accelerating, which is why we will begin making our move. We will destroy it from the very root."
Jack’s fingers tightened slightly on the table as he struggled to keep his expression neutral.
Andre continued, his gaze sweeping across everyone present. "There is also sothing else. I have reason to believe that they are already here."
The room fell silent.
Nox’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"They?" one of the elders asked cautiously.
"Those behind the beast taming resurgence," Andre said. "They did not co this far without a purpose. And if my guess is correct..." His eyes flicked briefly toward her before returning forward. "...then their true target has always been the statue."
"The Statue of Terra." An elder said.
The words echoed clearly in Nox’s mind, his eyes widening.
How did they know about Terra? The statue being here or their presence in the island wasn’t so shocking but knowing the actual patron goddess? There were several questions in his mind but it was not the right ti.
"Yes," Andre continued. "And if they succeed, the consequences will be far worse than what we are already dealing with."
The discussion continued, but Nox had already lost interest in the finer details. The mont he stepped into the castle, he had already sensed a powerful familial presence behind the walls.
’That is probably where it is kept.’
The eting eventually concluded, with Andre issuing orders to increase patrols and prepare counterasures.
She stood and exited the hall along with the others.
Nox disconnected from her senses gradually, and she regained full control of her body.
"What happened? You seem like you saw a ghost?" Eve asked.
"They know we are here." Nox revealed."Most importantly they know about Terra."
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